Press Release 06/2018 09.04.2018
During this weekend just ended GT4 European Series season has started from the Belgian circuit of Zolder, the same in which Gilles Villeneuve lost his life, and reserving different surprises.
The series organized by SRO foresaw 44 cars at the start and as was easy to imagine that all the drivers were ready to fight to remove the titles to their predecessors; in 2017 in the category AM Ghezzi and Mengozzi and the boys of Autorlando Sport, winning the drivers’ title (1st and 2nd place) and also the Team title.
On the circuit where a month ago the official tests took place, but with significantly worse weather conditions, a clear sky accompanies the drivers during the two free practice sessions where the # 76 car driven by Ghezzi-Giovanelli finds a good rhythm, finishing also the top five in FP2, followed by #75 of Cerati-Fondi a little more delayed.
It was clear that Giovanelli and Fondi, who had not taken part in the tests in March, are therefore immediately able to interpret the track well that we know are not the easiest with its mix of fast corners, slow chicanes and altimetric variations. In addition there are some new rules of behavior in pit-lane and penalties for those who do not respect the limits of the track but our 4 drivers do not get distracted and go straight to qualifying.
Qualifying as usual divide in two session of 15-minute and surprisingly Giovanlli and Fondi can do better than their companion: in Q1 Ghezzi and Cerati conquer the 5th and 10th place of class, Giovanelli and Fondi the 2nd and 9th; that is a good sign for the two races.
Race 1 concrete for both cars that after start being away from contacts in the middle of the total 44 cars on grid. Ghezzi and Cerati then deliver the car in perfect condition to their companions during the obligatory pit window; Giovanelli and Fondi are however blocked by a safety car due to two accidents for 5 laps, therefore unable to recover positions on the opponents. The race resumed and in the final 7 laps the positions conquered up to that moment were maintained, 5th place in the class for the # 76 car, 9th for the # 75 with Fondi that try to overtake the Mercedes in front of him until the last corner
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Race two was bitterly sweet, despite a start-up in which Giovanelli maintains the second position of the class before an accident puts out the car # 76. After the second restart from the safety car, unfortunately, at the chicane Villeneuve Giovanelli crashes against the Mercedes # 31, sending both of them out. Fondi’s car remains in the game, delivering it to Cerati in 6th place, which will be maintained until the end of the race, also resisting the Aston number # 61 attacks.
The season has just begun, the modd is so high and we give you appointment at the next race on the circuit of Brands Hatch for the second European stage on May 4/5/6, also reminding you that April 27/25/29 will start the season of the Italian GT4 all Imola circuit.
Info: https://european.gt4series.com/; http://www.acisport.it/campionati/CIGT/Imola
